Heel-nailing machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

H. W. WINTER. HEEL NAILING'MAGHINE.

m: mams Pmns co, imam-mo.. wnsumaw. o c

(No Mode1.)

. 5 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. W. WINTER. HEEL NAILING MACHINE.

No. 591,366. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

NIIIIIIIIIIIIIII *l A if (No Model.)

HEEL NAILING MACHINE.

No. 59`1,366. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

u. wAsHmnroN D c (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

H. W. WINTER. HEEL N-AILING MACHINE.

No. 591,366. Patented 0013.5,189'7-- v5 sheets-' sheet 5.

(No Model.)

, H'. W. WINTER. HEEL NAILING MACHINE.

THE Norms Pzrzns co. wmaurno., wAsnmcrou. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICR.

I-IENRY'w. WINTER, oF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL-NAILING' MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingl part of Letters Patent N0. 591,366, dated October 5, 1897. Application lefl November 27, 1896. Serial No. 613,589. (No model.)

To all whom t may aoncernf l 4Be it known that I, HENRY W. WINTER, of

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of This invention has for its object the production of an apparatus wherein a series of' nails are fed or conveyed directly from suitable distributing mechanism to a nailingblock from which vthey are driven into the heel of a boot or shoe mounted upon a suitable support to attach the heel. The nailingblock forms also one member of a heel-compressing mechanism by which the heel-is compressed just prior' to the insertion of the nails therein. l have arranged the apparatus in such manner that while one set of nails is being driven into a heel a new set will move into position ready to enter the nailingblock upon withdrawal of the drivers, so that at every complete cycle of operation of the apparatus the work-support will be moved to 'bring the heel into position, a set of nails will be driven into the heel, attaching it to the shoe, and a fresh set of nails will be presented in readiness to be driven into the next heel.

,Figure l, in side elevation and partially in section, represents a heel-nailing apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. l is an enlarged sectional detail of the lower part of the jack-spindleand lock. Fig. 1b is an enlarged detail, in side elevation, of the mechanism for effecting the -movement of thework-support to compress the heel. Fig. 2 is a top or plan View of the apparatus Shown in Fig. l on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of the apparatus, taken on the line .fr x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an under side view of the naildistributing mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of the nail-transferrer, to be described. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of details of the transferrer. Fig. 8 is a detail, partly in section and in elevation and broken outto save space, on the line no', Fig. 1, looking to the right, of the starting lling clutch-cam shown in section in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a top or plan view of the nail-guide block. Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sec- 1tional view of the throat of one of the nail- ;delivery tubes or passages. Fig. 12 is an en- ;larged vertical sectional View of one of the inail-detents located in the nail-block, and Fig. 12t is a lower end view of the detent `shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 13 is a partial side 4felevation of the nail-transferring mechanism, the members/ shown in Figs. 6 and 7 being -partly omitted. Fig. 14 'is a transverse sectional View of the transferring mechanism, taken on the line :r2 m2, Figs., 3 and 13, looking up. Figs. 15 and 16 are perspective details of the transferring mechanism shown in Figs.` 3 and 13. Fig. 17 is a plan view of the nail-carrier-controlling cam. Figs. 18, 19, .and 2O are enlarged views, in side and end elevation and plan, respectively, of the positioning device for the shoe to insure its proper presentation to the nailing mechanism.

The main frame of the apparatus comprises a suitable base A, an upright hollow column A', and brace A2 of suitable shape to provide bearings for the operating parts of the mechanism, the main frame being provided with bearings A3 A4 for the main driving-shaft B, on which is loosely mounted the sleeve-like hub B of a driving-pulley B2, adapted to be contin uously rotated from any suitable source of power, said sleeve extending through the bearing A4 and having at its inner end a clutch-lug bx to coperate at times with alug c (see ldotted lines, Fig. S, and full lines, Fig. 9) on the movable member C of the main clutch member feathered on the main shaft by a suitable spline, as h', Fig. 8.

The clutch member C is annularly grooved at c to engage the notched end of a springcontrolled plunger c', Fig. .1, longitudinally movable in a recess ax in thebearing A3 and normally pressed to the right, Fig. 1, by a suitable spring s, tending to bring the two clutch members into engagement.

The bearing A3 is laterally extended to form an ear a', forming a bearing for a slide-dog d, pivoted at its. lower end to a lever d', fulcrumed in the frame at d2 and'counected by a link d3 to a lcontolling-treadle D, the outer end of the treadle and also the dog being normally lifted by means of a spring s.

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The dog is adapted to engage a preferablynotched stop c2 on the periphery of the clutch member C, as best shown in Fig. 9, to act as a stop and prevent rotation of the said member and the driving-shaft B. When, however, the dog is withdrawn by depression of the treadle D, the spring s moves the clutch member C to bring its lug e into engagement with the cooperating lug b on the hub of the driving-pulley B2 to cause rotation of the shaft, and the shaft will rotate until the cam-surface c3 of the clutch member engages the dog d and moves the said clutch member laterally into unelutehed position as the stop c2 brings up against the dog. Itis necessary to provide means to automatically and positively move the dog into operative position after the machine has been started, so that if the operator should continue to bear upon the treadle D no injury will result to the apparatus, and for this purpose I have mounted a locking-slide (Z4 on the main frame below the dog and adjacent the end of its supporting-lever d, as best shown in Fig. 8, the said slide having a depression d5 therein which is brought beneath the dog just before the completion of a complete cycle of operation of the apparatus, so that the operator may thereafter release the clutch member for the next cycle.

By mechanism which will be hereinafter described the slide d" is moved in the direction of the arrow 5, Fig. S, immediately after the clutch member has been released by the dog to bring the main portion of the slide beneath and to prevent depression of the dog.

Upon the head of the main frame I have mounted a nail-distributing apparatus, eomprising a base-plate E, having an upturned iiange E,on the exterior of which are mounted a series of rotatable hoppers II,the bell-mouths 7L of which communicate with openings E2 in the ange, each hopper being provided with a bevel-gear hX in mesh with an intermediate gear L, (see Fig. 2,) the hoppers being arranged symmetrically about the center of the base-plate E and with one of the gears h between and in mesh with the gears hX of adjacent hoppers.

The cylindrical hoppers II herein shown are of suitable construction, and I have herein shown them as provided with interior liftingwedges 7b2 (see Fig. 3) to raise the nails from the mass of nails in the lower part of the hopper as it rotates and to drop them onto the upper ends of suitable raeeways h3, which extend from within the hoppers through their mouths and the openings E2 to the transferring mechanism, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and The nails, which in this instance of my invention are headed, will as they are thrown onto the raceways hang with their bodies suspended between the walls of the raceway, the nail-heads resting and sliding along the inclined tops of the said walls and descending by gravity to the inner ends of the raceways. Each raeeway passes through the slotted bottom of a guard h4, attached to the wall E at the bottom of the opening E2, and a swinging gate h5 is pivoted above the guard 7L and notched at its lower end, as at 7L, Fig. 3, to straddle the raceway, said gate being adapted to swing freely in the guard h1. As the nails pass down the raeeway the gate engages their heads successively and retards and tips up the head of each nail sufficiently to cause it when released to overlap the head of the nail next below it in the raeeway to thereby bring the nails into proper position to be engaged by the transferring meehanism, to be described. Should any nails be improperly positioned in the raeeway, the gate will engage and brush them off into the guard h4, whence they will be returned to the interior of the hopper.

One of the hoppers, as shown at the righthand side of Fig. 2, is provided with a shaft H', mounted in a suitable bearing a2 on a standard A5 at the top of the main frame, said shaft having fast thereon a gear Il2 in mesh with a smaller gear 113, rigidly secured to a large gear H4, loose on a shaft F, mounted in bearings a3 a4 of the main frame, the bearing a3 forming a part of a ring-like laterallyextended arm A, on which, by suitable posts, as EX,the distributing mechanism is mounted. Rotation of the gear H2 imparts uniform rotation of the series of hoppers II by means of the gears LX and 7i. A gear lli, fast on a short shaft G, is in mesh with the gear II, the shaft being rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing ai and having secured to it a suitable sheave or pulley G', driven, as herein shown, by a belt or band GX, fast around a sheave B5, faston the hub B of the main driving-pulley B2. It will thus be seen that the hoppers are rotated continuouslyand entirely independently of the operation of the remainder of the apparatus.

The transferrer mechanism is operated by the shaft F, said shaft having longitudinally mounted thereon a clutch member F and rotatable therewith by means of a suitable spline fx, the clutch member being normally moved to the left, Fig. 3, by a spring s2, surrounding the shaft and intermediate a flange or collar f2 thereon and the clutch member.

A series of lugs or teethf on the inner side of the clutch member F' are adapted to at times cooperate with corresponding teeth 7L on the gear H4, whereby at such time the transferrer-aetuating shaft F will be rotated.

A loeking-dogf, moved into operative position by a spring S3, Fig. 3, is pivotally connected to a bell-crank lever f2 f3, pivoted at f4 on the main frame and having a cam-face f5 to be engaged, as will be described, by a pin l0 to withdraw the dog f from and to permit the movement of the clutch member F into operative position. The said clutch member has a cam-face F3 (see dotted lines, Fig. 3) to engage the dog f after the latter has returned to normal position to thereby IOO IIO

disengage the clutch member F from the gear h4 as a stop -lug f6 (see Fig. l) brings up against the locking-dog f to thus bring the transferring mechanism to a stop.

The base-plate E is provided with an upturned central hub E3 and at its under side a larger depending hub E4, partially shown in Fig. 13 and in horizontal section, Fig. 14.

The hub E4 is reduced in diameter to leave an annular shoulder 2, against which bears the upper end of a gear-ring e, provided with a spur-gear e and a bevelgear e2, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 13,-thegear-ring being maintained in place on the hub by aret-ainingring e3, (shown separatelyin Fig. 16,.) securely attached by suitable screws to the lower end of the hub E4.

The retaining-ring cgsupports upon it an oscillating nail-distributer, shown as a cylindrical block g, having a laterally-'extended base g to fit snugly within the hub E4, the said block g having a series of vertical nailreceiving pockets g2 therein, to the lower ends of which pockets are secured in suitable manner the mouths of a series of flexible nailtubes gx.

The upper end of the body g of the naildistributer is cut away, as at g3, Fig.- 15, eX- posing the upper ends of the pockets g2.

Referring to Fig. 6, I have shown one member of the transferrer mechanism as a cylinder 7c, having an annular iiange c, cut away at 7a2 for a purpose to be described and securedby suitable screws passed through the flange to the bottom of the hub E3, as shown inI Fig. 3, the cylinder lo having a ,series of peripheral vertical nail-pockets kx, and between each two pockets the cylinder is notched or recessed, as at 7a3, for a purpose to be described.

The flange k' serves to support a nail-carrier, shown as a ring m, concentricl to the cylinder k, and having a series of vertical slots fm therein and horizontal slots m2, intersecting the vertical slots, the latter corresponding in numbers to the pockets kx in the receiver 7a, as shown best in Fig. 5.

The carrier m is adapted to be oscillated between the receiver k and the interior of the hub E3, the lower ends of the nail-chutes or guideways h3 extending through said hub to the outer circumference of the carrier, as best v shown in Fig. 2, there being one raceway or chute for each vertical slot m of the carrier. A let-off mechanism is movably mounted on the stationary receiver kof the transferring mechanism and consists, as best shown in Fig. 7 of a hub n, having a series of curved iin gers 'n' extended in a horizontal plane from Vthe outer ends of arms n2, attached to the top of the hub by suitable screws, as nx, the arms, as shown in Fig. 5, entering loosely the slots k3 of the stationary member, so that theletoff may have a slight oscillating movement l relatively to said member, the curved ngers n' entering the slots 'm2 of the carrier.

The movement of the transferring mechanism is effected by suitable devices to be described, such movement effecting the transfer of a nailfrom each of the raceways to a slot m' in the carrier and from said carrier into lthe pockets 79X of the stationary receiver of the transferring mechanism, and, as is yet to shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the first movement of the let-off is in the direction of the arrow 15 to partially close the slots m and at the same time retain the remaining nails in the raceways, after which the carrier m and the letoff are moved oppositely to .the arrow 15 to bring the slots m opposite the mouths of the pockets 70X, and as the/carrier is moved a little farther than the let-off the inclined face 01.3 on the inner side of -each finger n of the let-off will act against the nail in the adjacent slot m and snap it quickly into the pocket kx at such time, the head of the nail hitting against the outwardly-beveled overhanging edge of a cap 20, (see Fig. 3,) Which is mounted on the hub n of the let-off.

The actuating-shaft F for the transferrer mechanism has fast thereon a bevel-gear f7 in mesh with and to rotate the bevel-gear e2, formed on the ring e, such rotation by or through the spurgear e' rotating a smaller gear o, fast on a shaft o' in a suitable bracket E8, depending from the base-plate E, said shaft having at its lower end a cam 02, (shown in plan in Fig. 4,) the periphery of-said cam having two throw portions o3 and o4 and a rest portion o5 to be engaged by a suitable roller or other stud o6, rotatably mounted on a foot o7, suitably secured to the base-flange g' of the nail-distributer, as clearly shown in Fig. 15. A spring s4, fast at one end to the ring e3, is attached at its other end to the foot o7 to move the roll against the cam 02 and also to return the nail-distributer to normall position after complete rotation of the cam.

Referring to Fig,` 16, it will be seen that the ring e3 is cut away at e30 to permit the oscillation of the nail-distributer, the ends of said cut-away portion acting as stops to limit such movement.

The cam o2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 35, Fig. 4, and as the roll passes from the dwell portion o5 to the rise 05 the nail-distributer will be partially rotated in the direction of the arrow 36, and it will be moved a still further distance in the same direction when the roll is engaged by the rise 04 of still greater radius, the latter giving the nail-distributer its greatest movement. As the roll leaves the rise o4 the spring s4 quickly returns the distributer to normal position, as .shown in Fig. 4, sothat herein there are three successive positions assumed by the nail-distrib- ICO IIO

uter for each complete rotation ofthe con-l trolling-cam o2.

l The nail-carrier/niis provided-with aflaterally-extended arm m4, Figs. 13 and 14, on

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which is mounted a roll m to be engagedby .the arms 3 of a ca1n.mG,-(shown in plan, Figt 17,) fast on the shaft o', the sides lof 'the-arms acting to gradually move the nail-carrier in one direction Aand to dwelll while the kroll is engaged bythe end of the arm, and 'when' thel roll leaves` the end ofthe arm a spring S5, fixed at one endl and .attached at its lother endl to the; levermt, quickly returns the naihcarrier l lto .the position shown lin Figs.l 2 and 5. lThe f l pockets lex, into which' the nails are moved,

f nail-carrier lis Aherein .shown asi having: sin

nailreceiving slots m', and the coperatingy stationary receiver .7o `has a like number of as lhas .been described, while thenail-distrihuter (shown separately in Fig. haseighteen nail-receivingpockets, and therefore it is'nec-l 1 hessaryinA order lto. completely load the distributer-.tubes g?? to transfer three sets of nails lrstset of nails is moved from the carrier "m inte thel pocketslx, such lnails passing from the pockets into six of the lpockets g2 of thel distributer below them and thence to their tubesgfw.`

The continued movement of the. cam o2 carries the .distributerto its third position at .the

.time the second load of nailsis ready to bel transferred thereto from the pockets lex, and the distributer will have returned to its first position (shown in Fig. 4) in time to receive the third load of nails from the carrier, six of the pockets g2 of the distributer, as herein shown, receiving nails at each end of said movements thereof.

inasmuch as the nail-carrierm must be oscillated three times foreach complete rotation of the cam 02, the cam m6 is provided with three of the arms 3, each arm acting to move it in one direction, the spring .S5 returning it thereafter.

Referring to Figs. 2,5,and 7,the let-off mechanism has one of its arms m2 extended beyond its finger n, as at nl, said arm and the letoff mechanism being retained in normal position by a suitable spring S10, (see Fig. 2,) the arm being located in the path of a tappetcam m12, fast on a shaft p13, rotatable in the plate E, said shaft below the plate having secured to it a pinion nl (see Figs. 4 and 14) in mesh with the gear e' and rotated thereby in the direction of the arrow 37. At each rotation of the shaft w13 the tappet-cam 7112 will engage the arm n10, moving it and the let-off as a whole in the direction of the arrow 39, Fig. 5, to cause the fingers n2 to cover up the openings m in the carrier, and at the same time closing the lower ends of the raceways h3. As the carrier is then moved oppositely to the arrow 39, the portions of the carrier between the slots m are brought opposite to the ends of and closing'the raceways l about the time that the l tappet-cam releases rthe let-off.' The spring sl0 immediately returns the latter to its normal position, bringing the lingers n2 into proper relation with the nail-pockets kx of the/receiver, so that as l the nails are brought opposite the openings' of said pockets by the continued' movement of the carrier the inclined faces n3 of the fintiers will .act upon andremovethe nailsfrom thecarrier into the pockets of the receiver.

The 'nails' as they are loaded into the disf trilmter will pass ltherefrom down the fiexible tubes gx tothe throat-pieces g8, yone of f' which is shown lenlarged and in' section Ain Fig. l1, and through the nail-block guideN I into thc nail-blocl N lbelow it, each' throat-y .piece having a branch portion g secured to the lower end of itsA delivery-tube gx and 'opening linto .the driver-passage glol of the.

throat, the lower ends of lthe throats 'extend-l ing into suitable holes inthe nail-block guide,l

arranged in aline substantially correspond upper lportionof each hole n10 is enlarged 'to receive therein a detentl (shown as a short' tube nu) longitudinallyslotted at al to leave a series of spring or yielding fingers al, two

ofl which, :as .best sh own lin Fig.' 12, are bent l in toward'thel lcenter to contract'thel lower end of the tube. l

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lVhen the nails pass 'from the nail-guide block into the nail-block N, the fingers nl will act to slant or tip the nail toward the center of the heel and the yielding portion n will grasp the body of the nail and prevent it from dropping out of the nail-block.

The straight or unbent portion of the detent-tube rests on the shoulder am of the hole in the nail-block, the smaller portion of the hole n10 and the interior of the detent-tube forming a continuation one of the other to afford no obstruction to the passage of the nail.

The nail-block and nail-guide block are mounted in a suitable holder A8, forming a part of the frame, thc nail-block being held in place in usual manner.

The nail-drivers nl are mounted in a driver block or plate N 2, secured to across-head N3, rigidly secured to a vertically-reciprocating plunger N, having bearings in the column- A', and provided with a suitable spline 17 to prevent rotation of the plunger.

The pin 10, to control the elbow-lever f3 for the clutch member F, is shown as mounted on the cross-head N.

The lower end of the plunger N, below its bearing A10, (see Fig. 1,) has pivoted thereto a pitman N5, connected at its lower end to a wrist or crank pin N6, carried by the main driving-shaft B, whereby rotation of the latter will reciprocate the plunger, each descent of the plunger moving the drivers nl down IIO through the driver-openings g1 of the throats g8 and into the nail-block to drive the nails held therein into the heel and shoe. When the drivers are depressed, they will close the outlet of the branches g9 of the nail-delivery throats, so that the nails next to be driven cannot pass into Vthe nail-guide block until the drivers are withdrawn on the upstroke of the plunger. A slide-block r is mounted to be vertically moved in a guide A12, secured to or forming part of the column A, said slideblock having screwed thereinto from its lower end an eyebolt r', pivoted to one member or link r2 of a toggle, the other link .r3 being fulcrumed at r4 on the main frame and joined at r to the member r2. The latter member has a roll r6 thereon at the inside of the joint to be engaged by a cam-block R, fast on the plunger N4, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 1", said cam-block having a downwardly-inclined face r7 to act upon the roll and gradually straighten the toggle as .the plunger descends, thereby gradually raising the slideblock r, which carries the work-support.

'lhe links r2 and r3 are provided, as best shown in Fig. Ib, with cooperating stops 8 and 7 to engage with each other when the toggle is straightened, the vertical face rs of the cam block R maintaining the toggle straightened while-the plunger completes its downwardA movement,;the timing of the cam being such that the toggle will be fully straightened before the drivers begin to drive the nails into the heel. A L

The foot rf below the cam-face r? acts upon the roll r6 and breaks the toggle as the plunger ascends. A screw t is threaded into the upper end of the slide-block r, said screw having a head t circular for a portion of its periphery and provided with a plurality of depressions 15X, one or other of which receives a locking-ball 252, pressed toward the screw-head by a spring S7, Fig. 1a, held by a suitable retaining-screw t3, in a tubular holder t4, secured to or forming part of the jackspindle J; which is bifurcated at its` lower end to receive the -head t of the screw on which it is pivoted at t5. It will be obvious that the spring will force the locking-ball t2 into one or other of the depressions 15X, according as to Whether the jack-spindle is in full or dotted line position, Fig. 1, and will hold the latter in position until positively moved therefrom.

The spindle J is adapted to carry the worksupporting last J', as shown in Fig. 1, and upon which thel shoe is placed, the movement of the slide-block r, hereinbefore described, moving the shoe and heel-support, to be described, toward the under side of the nailblock N and present the heel just before the nails are driven thereinto. A limitingstop t6 on the screw-head t prevents undue outward movement of the jack-spindle when it is drawn into dotted-line position, Fig. 1, to have a shoe moved therefrom or placed upon it.

In Figs. 1, 18, 19, and 20 I have shown a convenient and novel positioning device to insure the correct presentation of the shoe to the nailing mechanism, the apparatus herein shown being particularly adapted in nailing spring-heel shoes, although my invention is not restricted to such work. The screw-head t' is vertically grooved at its rear side, as at t7, (see dotted lines, Fig. 18,) to receive therein the foot fu of an upright o, on the upper end of which is pivoted a disk @2. The foot 1J is rigidly secured to the screw-head by suitable screws 21 and 22, 19, the screw 22, passing through a boss v3 on the foot o, being provided with a roll v4 to run in a vertical groove 29 in the column A and prevent undue rotation of the work-support and heel-holder on the slide-block. Upturned and outwardlybent arms v5 are secured to the upright o near its lower end, as by screws 31, said arms having pivotally mounted thereon at their upper ends at o6 levers v7, pivotally connected by links lUSto crank-pins o9 on the disk v2, the inner ends of the levers o7 being normally separated by a spring S, surrounding a guiderod v10, loosely extended through ears on the connecting-pivots between the links and arms.

The levers U7 are prolonged beyond their fulcrums to form gripping-fingers or clamps @12, having conveXed portions 41 42 at their outer and inner ends, respectively, Fig. 20, to engage the shoe on the last or work-support J at at least four points. The portion of the clamp nearest the back of the shoe will engage only the upper thereof, while I may upturn the outer ends of the clamps, as at 1113, to engage the sole of the shoe at or near the shank. It will be seen that the movement of one clamp member on its fulcrum @G must be duplicated by its fellow member, owing to the equalizing connection therebetween made by `the links and disk '02, thus preventing any crooked or improper positioning of the shoe. An adjustable back-stop 'U15 is mounted in the upper end of the standard u to bear against the back of the shoe, the back-stop being herein shown as aheaded screw, but any other suitable adjustable device may be used.

In order to adapt the positioning device to any sized shoe, thearms 'U5 are mounted to rock on their attaching-screws 81, and they are normally drawn together by a spring SX and equalized as to their separation by links U18, pivotally connected to a rotatable disk '019, mounted on the lower part of the upright It will be seen that Whether the arms v5 are swung in toward each other or apart the operation of the clamping members @12 will be the same and that the latter will cooperate with the shoe in any adjusted position of the supporting-arms thus provided for all sizes and shape of shoes.

In nailing spring-heel shoes it is desirable to insert a shorter nail at or near each corner of the breast, and 4in the apparatus herein shown I provide one of the hoppers II with kthe short nails, so that three short nails will Ioo IIO

be loaded into the nail-receiver g for each complete operation of the apparatus, and inasmuch as it is only necessary to use two of the short nails I have shown in Fig. l one of the nail-delivery tubes as disconnected from its throat and opening intoone of the compartments, as w, of a chute or receptacle IV, having at its lower end a removable gate az, the other compartment c. being provided to receive the larger nails if it is desired to use a less number of nails than there are pockets in the nail-receiver.

By referring to Figs. I and 3 it will be seen that when the plunger N4 descends to drive a series of nails from the nail-block N the dog f' will be withdrawn from and release the clutch member F, thereby causing the transferring mechanism to operate and transfer the full number of nails from the raceways h3 to the pockets of the nail-distributer g, and such of the nails as pass thence to the nail-delivery tubes before the elevation of the plunger will be held in the branches y" of the throat-pieces by said drivers ready to pass into the nail-block as the drivers are again brought to rest in raised position. The detents in the nail-block prevent the nails from dropping out of it while the operator is placing a new shoe in position to have the heel nailed thereon.

Referring to Fig. S, the clutch member F has in its circular periphery a depression 50, and a roll 5l on the upper end of a lever 52 is held in engagement with the periphery of said clutch member by a spring S5, Fig. 8, the said lever being fulcrumed on the frame at 53 and joined at 54 to the locking-slide d'1. During almost the entire rotation of the clutch member F the roll 5l will be on the high part of its periphery and will maintain the slide in locking position to prevent depression of the dog d', but the low part 50 of the clutch member permits the roll to enter it and to withdraw the locking-slide d'1 at the end of each cycle of operation of the apparatus. A

By referring to Figs. l and 3 it will be seen that the transferring and distributing mechanism is located substantially directly above the nail-block, so that the nails pass by the shortest and most direct route thereto.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein shown, as the same may be variously modified or rearranged without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Thile I have shown one convenient form of hopper and a certain number of hoppers, Imy invention is not restricted either to the particular form of hopper shown nor to the number, the latter depending only on the number of nails which it is desired to drive into the heel and also on the ratio between the number of pockets in the nail-distributer and in the nail-carrier.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a heel-nailing apparatus, a work-support, a nail-block, nail-distributing mechanism, means to convey the nails directly therefrom to the nail-block, to be driven, a reciprocating plunger, a gang of nail drivers mounted thereupon and actuated thereby, and means operated by said plunger to cause relative movement of the work-support and nail-block to compress the heel on its shoe prior to the insertion of the nails, substantially as described.

2. In a heel-nailing apparatus, nail-distributing mechanism, a nail-block fixed relatively thereto, a nail-guide block above it, having a series of removable and adjustable branching throats, nail-passages leading from the distributing mechanism to one of the branches of each throat, and a gang of drivers reciprocable in the other branches of the throats, to drive the nails from the nail-block into the heel, the openings of the nail-passages being closed by the drivers as the latter descend, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, nail-transferring mechanism, comprising a movable nail-distributer having nail-pockets, and a series of nail-tubes connected therewith, a superposed stationary receiver having open peripheral pockets, and a concentric nail-carrier, to receive nails singly from each of a plurality of raceways, combined with means to move said carrier to transfer the nails to the receiver to pass therefrom by gravity to the distributer, and means to move the latter successively to present a new series of pockets to receive a fresh supply of nails from the receiver, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, nail-transferring mechanism, comprising a stationary receiver, and a movable nail-carrier, having each a like number of nail-receiving portions, and a nail-distributer having a series of pockets, a multiple of the number of nail-receiving portions of the receiver, combined with means to move said carrier to transfer a set of nails to the receiver, means to move the distributer step by step after cach movement of the carrier, to present a new series of pockets to receive the nails from the receiver, and a series of nail-passages connected to said distributer, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of -raceways along which nails pass by gravity, a common transferring mechanism, comprising a iiXed nail-receiver having a scries of open pockets, an oscillating carrier to take nails singly from each of said raccways and present them to the pockets, a let-off to govern the movement of the nails in the raceways, and means carried by said let-off, to eject the nails from the carrier, substantially as described.

G. In an apparatus of the class described, a

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series of raceways along which nails pass by gravity, a common transferring mechanism, comprising a fixed nail-receiver having a series of open pockets, an oscillating carrier to take nails singly from each of sa'id raceways and present them to the pockets, a let-off to govern the movement of the nails in the raceways, means to eject the nails from the carrier, and a distributer to distribute the nails ejected into the receiver, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of nail-raceways, a carrier to take nails singly therefrom and deposit them in a receiver, the receiver, a distributer having a series of flexible nail-tubes attached thereto,

, means to move the distributer to take nails r retain it in the nail-block till positively removed therefrom, substantially as described.

9. In a heel-nailing apparatus, a nail-block having a series of nail-passages provided each with a shoulder, a tube inserted in each hole and resting on the shoulder, said tube being longitudinally slotted at its lower end to leave yielding detent-lingers, two of said detent-ingers being bent inward to contract the lower end of the tube, said bent fingers acting to tip or slant the nail toward the center of the heel into which it is to be driven, substantially as described. f

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a rotatable hopper, its support having an opening communicating with the hopper, a raceway having its upper end. extended through said opening into the hopper, a guard embracing said raceway at the bottom of the opening, anda pivotally mounted gate to straddle said raceway within the guard, to return improperly-presented nails to the hopper, substantially as described.

ll. In an apparatus of the class described, a rotatable hopper having an open mouth in one side thereof, a raceway extended through the mouth of and into the hopper, to receive the nails, the heads of the latter being supported with their bodies depending between the walls of the raceway, and means to retard the nails successively and tip them to cause the head of each to overlap the head of the nail next below it, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of hoppers to receive the nails in bulk, means to continuously rotate said hoppers, nail-transferring mechanism, to receivethe nails from the hoppers, and to transfer them to a nail-block, the nail-block, nail-passages leading directly theretofrom the transferring mechanism, and means to operate said mechanism intermittingly, substantially as described. 1

13.- In an apparatus of the class described, a series of hoppers to receive the nails in bulk, means to continuously rotate said hoppers, nail-transferring mechanism, to receive the nails from the hoppers, and to transfer them to a nail-block, the nail-block, nail-passages leading directly thereto from the transferring mechanism, a gang of drivers, a reciprocating plunger to actuate them, connections, including a clutch, between the transferring mechanism and the means to rotate the hoppers, and a clutch -controller governed by movement of the plunger, whereby the trans' ferrin g mechanism is intermittingly operated, substantially as described.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, a work-support, a slide-block on which it is mounted, and a toggle to raise and lower said block, combined with a stationary nail-block, a gang of drivers, a reciprocating plunger to actuate them, and a cam on said plunger, to straighten the toggle and raise the work-support before the drivers drive the nails into the heel, substantially as described.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, a work-support, a slide-block on which it is mounted, and a toggle to raise and lower said block, combined with a stationary nail-block, a gang of drivers, a reciprocating plunger to actuate them, a cam on said plunger, having an inclined and a vertical face, to act successively upon and to straighten the toggle, and thereafter to maintain it in such condi'- tion while the nails are being driven, substantially as described.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, a nail-block, a work-support, means to move one relatively to the other, to compress the heel of a shoe, a gang of drivers, a reciprocating plunger on which they are mounted, and a controlling device on said plunger, to govern the means for causing relative movement of the nail-block and work-support, substantially as described.

17. v.In an apparatus of the class described, a work-support adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a head upon which it is pivotallyv mounted, said head having a partially-circular periphery provided with a plurality ofdepressions therein, and a spring-controlled locking member carried by the work-support and comprising a spring and a locking-ball adapted to enter one or other of said depressions in the circular periphery, to maintain the work-support in such position unless positively withdrawn therefrom by bodily movementof the work-support, substantially as described.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, a work-support, and a cooperating positioning device for the work, said device comprising upturned, separable arms, an equalizing connection between them, separable clamping IOO IIO'

members pivotally mounted on said arms, to per of the shoe, said clamps being nptnrned rock in substantially horizontal planes to at their outer ends to engage the sole at or grasp the sides of the shoe, and spring-acnear the shank, substantially as described.

tuated eqnalizing` connections between tl1e| In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 5 clamps, substantially as described. name to this specification in the presence of 19. In an apparatus of the class described, two subscribing witnesses.

awork-support, andacooperatingpositioning Y f T 7 f 1 1 device for the work, said device comprising HENRX n INULR' pivotally-mountcd laterally-Swingin? clamp- IVitnesses: Io ing members each having two convexcd por- JOHN C. EDWARDS,

tions on their inner faces, to engage the up- AUGUsTA E. DEAN. 

